“And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins” (Ephesians 2.1.)
Introduction. What a solemn sight is a dead body! Death is a Vandal with this mortal fabric. Left by God’s grace, our soul must be loathsome through sin, even as the corpse through natural decay. In his lifetime our Saviour raised three dead persons; I shall use these three facts as illustrations.
(1) The Condition of Man by Nature. Men by nature are dead. The first case is Jairus’ daughter, the flush not yet faded from her face. Next is the young man, with signs of decay apparent. The third is Lazarus, who had begun to stink. All three are dead; death knows of no degrees. And so it is in this congregation. There are fair beings, both in appearance and character; others a little older, but beginning to indulge evil habits; and then characters who are so rotten that they are put out of decent society. These last are not more dead than the first, though their death is more fully revealed. Jesus Christ must quicken the one as the other. Now each case more particularly. Look at the fair maiden; isn’t she lovely? Alas! her excellence, virtue, and goodness avail nothing. She must be made alive. Note also, the maiden is still caressed. So with some of you. You are loved by God’s people. Alas! that you should still be dead! This maiden has no grave-clothes on yet. So with you. You have no evil habits yet. Alas! you are dead, even in your fairest raiment. The maiden’s death was confined to her chamber; the young man was carried to the city gate; Lazarus was in the tomb. Alas! my sister, that you have sins in the chamber of your heart. Take heed, you fairest and most upright; unless you are regenerated, you must be cast away. Now the second case. He is not more dead than the first, but he is further gone. The cheek is sunken, corruption begun. So with the young man here. Maybe he has been enticed by the strange woman. The maiden was still caressed; but good men shrink from this young man. He is still received among the people of God, but somewhat coldly, for they understand that he is not a living one. The maiden was yet in her garments of life; you are wrapped in grave-clothes. You are not yet the blasphemous infidel. But you will go further. You cannot stop the worm from eating. You have gone so far that your habits are openly wicked. O, Lord! touch the bier! Stop some young man in his evil habits, and say to him, ‘Arise!’ Now the last case. There is not even the gloss of life left. O, hideous spectacle! But the last stage of sin, hideous far more! I cannot describe the lusts and vices of full-grown sinners. Their deeds must be done in tombs, perpetrated at midnight. Yet, the most desperately abominable may be quickened.
(2) The Quickening. These three were all quickened by Jesus—each in a different manner. The maiden was raised with a gentle touch, and the soft voice was heard, ‘Maiden, arise.’ Usually when God converts young people in the first stage of sin, he does it gently. The young man’s life was given more publicly, in the street by his companions. There comes the outspoken voice, ‘Young, man, I say unto thee, arise!’ About the maiden, Jesus said, ‘She is not dead, but sleepeth.’ To the mother of the young man, he said, ‘Weep not.’ But in Lazarus’ case he wept, then cried, ‘Lazarus, come forth!’ The thunders of Sinai may be needed to arrest you.
(3) The After-Experience of Each. To the maiden the command is, ‘Give her meat.’ Young people lack knowledge. Give them plenty of meat. The young man is delivered to his mother. Grace knits the ties that sin has loosed. Lazarus is loosed and let go. Christ breaks the older sinner’s habits.
Selection from Conclusion. “O that he would quicken you and lead you to believe!”
